Oriontimes News Desk| April 14, 20246 With just 11 days left, anticipation is building across Osun State as the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Osun State Chapter, intensifies preparations for the highly anticipated Youth in Governance Conference 2026. The countdown is no longer gradual, it is accelerating. Stakeholders, young leaders, and aspiring changemakers are being urged to seize the moment as registration remains open but limited. Organizers describe the conference as more than just a gathering. It is a platform where ideas are expected to evolve into tangible action, where emerging voices will be amplified, and where the future of governance in Osun and beyond will be actively shaped. “This is where conversations turn into action, where young leaders step forward, and where the future is not merely discussed but decided,” a statement from the council emphasized. The event is scheduled to hold on April 25, 2026, at 9:00 AM, at the Osogbo Grammar School Conference ...
In what many are calling a political earthquake in Osun State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has suffered another brutal blow as Hon. Wole Oke, a long-time political titan and loyalist of the party officially dumped the PDP for the All Progressives Congress (APC). His exit has triggered a fresh wave of defections, with two former PDP Ward Chairmen in Erin Ijesa immediately collapsing the party’s local structure and moving en masse with their supporters.
Mr. Fatoki Dare Ekweme and Mr. Ola, both influential powerbrokers and former Chairmen of Ward 2 in Erin Ijesa, Oriade Local Government, stunned party loyalists as they publicly declared their allegiance to APC, citing unwavering loyalty to Hon. Oke and a complete loss of faith in the PDP.
“This isn’t politics as usual, this is a statement,” said Mr. Fatoki. “The PDP in Erin Ijesa is no more. We’ve shut it down.”
The defection has left the PDP reeling, as the ripple effects are being felt across the Oriade axis and beyond. Locals say this is not just a switch, it's a total dismantling of the PDP's grassroots machinery in a zone once considered a stronghold.
Hon. Wole Oke’s defection marks the climax of a series of high-profile exits that have rocked the PDP in recent weeks. With his immense political capital, years of constituency influence, and deep loyalty networks, insiders say his departure is nothing short of catastrophic for the party in Osun.
Political observers warn that if this trend continues, the PDP may be headed for an electoral collapse in key local governments unless drastic internal reforms are made.
“This isn’t just defection, it’s a marathon of political abandonment. The PDP is bleeding from the inside, and the hemorrhage may be fatal if not stopped,” a political analyst commented.
With 2026 around the corner, one question now echoes across Osun: Who’s next?

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